This is kind of a big development for the NFL, and the San Francisco 49ers in particular. Adam Schefter is reporting the NFL is expected to allow teams to trade compensatory draft picks starting this coming spring. This is likely something that would require a formal vote and approval process, but this would seem to bode well for this happening next spring.
The 49ers could be looking at as many as four comp picks in the 2016 NFL Draft. Comp picks are determined by free agency gains and losses. If you lose more free agents than you sign, you are likely to get some comp picks. There are 32 total comp picks handed out, and no team is allowed more than four.
Over The Cap provides some pick projections, as well a free agency cancellation chart to show their work. They project the 49ers to have comp picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, as well as two in the sixth round. Those come via the following free agency gains and losses
Signings
Torrey Smith
Erik Pears
Departures
Mike Iupati
Chris Culliver
Perrish Cox
Dan Skuta
Frank Gore
Michael Crabtree
Iupati and Crabtree cancelled out Smith and Pears, respectively. OTC has Nick Bellore as a non-qualifying free agent signing due to his contract. These numbers all could change, but the 49ers could be looking at four more picks for trading purposes.
49ers 2016 NFL Draft picks
1. First round: Own pick
2. Second round: Own pick
3. Third round: Own pick
4. Fourth round: Own pick
5. Fourth round: Comp pick (Chris Culliver)
6. Fifth round: Own pick
7. Fifth round: San Diego Chargers (2015 draft-day trade)
8. Fifth round: Comp pick (Perrish Cox)
9. Sixth round: Dallas Cowboys (2015 draft-day trade)
10. Sixth round: Denver Broncos (Vernon Davis trade)
11. Sixth round: Comp pick (Dan Skuta)
12. Sixth round: Comp pick (Frank Gore)